Classification of finger prints



Oct- 12 1926.

F. A. COOKE ET AL CLASSIFICATION OF FINGER PRINTS F'iledSepi. 18. 1924 INVENTORS QF'rederL'ck A- Cool 'and WLLLicma T l/ZR'eeveS rately carried out than is possib e Patented Oct. 12, 1926. i

UNITED sures cmc-E;

FREDERICK A. cookie Am) WQI LL I IQ ARREN Riiiivias, or rRAnc-isoo,

' CALIFORNIA.

CLASSIFICATIOI! or FINGER PRINTS,

Application filed semem'b'eria, 1924. serial 1%. 738,480.

This invention relates to the classification of finger prints, our principal object bein to provide a simple method and device y means of which finger print classification may be more completel and accuent methods. p

In other words we have arranged a means for enabling a greater numberjof features from any finger to be positively listed, classihad and indexed than has heretofore been possible without considerable labor. At the same time, well established methods orsystems of finger print classification are not deviated from. We have 'me'r'ely enlarged upon the same and enabled such classifi'da tion to be more thoroughly efficiently and quickly carried out. It is a well known fact that no'two finger prints are identical in their arran ement or number of lines, while possibly having certain common characteristics. 'We have therefore provided a means for enabling any print to be divided into a fixed number of zones or sections extending a number of ways from a common center, each section having a certain definite area.

By then counting the diiferent linesi'n each section along a predetermined mark, a classification of that particular print will be established in the form of numerals which may be readily recorded 'on a card or other index for future use.

Even three such numbers will in all probability be sufficient to establish the identity of any print as against any other, but the count obtainable with our device is not limited to this number, but may be greatlyincreased at the option of the operator if it is felt that the necessity for so doing exists.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the device used in connection with our method.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device as ap lied to a finger print.

eferring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the device consists of a small sheet 1 of thin celluloid or other transparent material of suitable kind.

On this sheet is printed or otherwise impressed a circle 2, preferably inch in diameter.

with pres I Running axially through and axiall of" this circle and beyond the same at both ends is a line 3 formed to indicate an arrow.

Another line 4 intersects the line 3 at right angles thereto and passes exactly through the centerof the circle.- vThe area of the latter is therefore 'dividedinto four segments or zones of equal size;

The outer ends are marked with numerals 5, starting with 1 at the head or tip of "the arrow line, and running thence in a clockwise direction. This device forms atemplate to be superimposed over any finger print.

The finger print 6, shown in Fig. 2 is that of 'a right hand thumb of the common 4 arch type, as will be evident to'those versed in this science. In using our device in connection with such a print, the template is placed over the same, withrthe center ofthe circle 2 orthe point of intersection of the lines 3 and 4;, over the nearest bifurcation in the print that starts from the right hand side thereof. Then turn the template so that the arrow line 3 points as straight up through the .center of the print as canbe judged by 'the eye. This line is thus located in accordance with the Henry system, and forms the base from which the count is taken. r

This arch is used as the first one fromv which to take a count, much as the core in the pattern is used as the center of location of the device.

On prints. of the core and delta pattern, the plane of the old. Henry count is also taken as a basis for locating the template. In other words the. center of circle 2 is placed exactly on the tip of the core and the arrow line 3 located along the center of the -delta,"or in a central plane between the last two lines which indicate where the delta is. i

On prints having loop, whorl or composite patterns, the center of the template meral 1 at the upper end of said line. The idea of the count is of course to ascertain how many of the lines of the print cross said line between the designated limits.

The printed lines are next counted along the right hand portion of cross line 4-, between the center of the circle and the periphery thereof. A count is then taken along the lower portion of line 3 inside the circle, and similarly if necessary along the left hand port-ion of line 1.

If these counts are 21., 15, 16 and 14 respectively, the classification of the print, to be then suit-ably indexed, in connection with a 10 finger Henry card if desired, would be 1, 21; :2, 15; 3, 1G; and 4, 1A. The numbers 1 to i in front of the counts denote along which portions of the lines 3 and 1 the counts were made.

Now in similarly using the template on any other print, no matter how closely the two may resemble each other in general. form, it will be found that no two sets of counts along the lines 3 and 4 correspond with each other, no matter how many prints are compared, and usually the count along three of the four line-sections is sufficient.

By placing this device over any two finger prints whose identity is doubtful or in dispute, the question can be almost instantly settled one way or the other and without any possibility of doubt.

The use of our device permits of better demarcation of the Gralton details, such as islands, enclosures, bifurcations and other different features occurring in finger prints than is otherwisepossible, and the results obtainable therewith can be filed in entire harmony with the old established Henry 10 finger system, which of itself has no pro vision for segregating and filing various forms of single prints. The particular size of circle used as hereinbefore stated was chosen as being large enough to surround the major portion of any finger print. It avoids excessively large numerical counts and still allows for the desired divergence in the numbers of the different counts.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that we have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the object of the invention as set forth herein.

ld hile this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for aiding in finger print classification comprising a transparent sheet adapted to be superimposed over a print, there being a pair of crossed and visible lines on said sheet, the pointof intersection of said lines being adapted to be placed over a certain central characteristic feature of the print, whereby to enable numerical counts of the different lines of the print being taken for a predetermined distance along each of said sheet lines outwardly from the point of intersection of the sheet lines with each other.

2. A device for aiding in finger print classification comprising a transparent sheet adapted to be superimposed over a print, there being a pair of crossed and visible lines on said sheet, the point of intersection of .said lines being adapted to be placed over a certain central characteristic feature of the print, there also being a circle of predetermined radius on the sheet intersecting the lines, the center of said circle being the point of intersection of the lines.

3. A method of classifying finger prints consisting in locating a characteristic feature on the print and establishing a numeral count of the lines of the print for a predetermined distance in a plurality of predeten mined different directions from said charac teristic feature.

t. A method of classifying finger prints consisting in locating a common characteristie point on the print, locating lines across the print in a plurality of different 'directions from said common point and in definite positions relative to certain fixed and characteristic features of the print, and establishing a numerical count of the lines of the print for a predetermined distance along the first named lines.

FREDERICK A. COGKE. WILLIAM WARREN REEVES.

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